Inductive static drain for oil-storage tanks



July 29 1924. 1,502,924

c. A. STANLEY mnuqnvm sumo 1mm FOR om STORAGE pmxs Filqqffow 21. 192) 2 Shgets-Sheet 1 QQZ z-weMtM (1/17. Siam/L 9.

. c. A. STANLEY INDUGTIVE STATIC DRAIN FOR O IL' STORAGE TANKS Filed mix-21. 1921 2 S heets $hefl 2 wm/wtoz 6.17. S 50/: lg.

Patented July 19,1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. STANLEY, 0F WICHITA, KANSAS.

INDUCTIVE STATTG DRAIN EOE OIL-STORAGE TANKS.

Application and November 21,1921. seine no; 516,838.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, Gmnmzs A. SrrAnmrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wichita, in. the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inductive Static Drains for Oil-Storage Tank's, of which the following'is a specification.

The present invention refers to a device to protect oil storage tanks from fire caused by induced electricity that might collect in storage tanks or in contents of the tank pro er. I

h y'device covers the process of draining a container and its contents of inductive electric charges, which consists in collecting from conduotin particles. suspended within contents of sai container, induced charges contained in said articles and conducting said charges to a suitable point of discharge.

My device 'may be arranged to conduct to the ground electricity from induced electricity within'the'ta'nk or its contents by means of an internal system of conductors.

As the storage tank, pi ing, and necessary parts are all connecte metallically and grounded, the same potential will exist in all these units so that no sparks will occur or in other words, they have all the same capacity. The internal drain system willprevent the store of induced static electricity within the 011 body itself. The internal drain system will protect a inst lightnin without any detrimental e ects on the pi tank or attachments. Any metals suitable as electrical conductors may be used in the construction of the internals stems.

In the accompanying. rawings the present invention is illustrated showing one embodiment thereof, and

Figure 1 is a view of a tank and the internal drain system, part of the tank bein'g v broken away and it also shows how one or more'grounds may be used, depending upon oonditlons of installation;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic and perspective view of the internal drain system show- .f'ng the constructiogr'of the wire type formation; Fi rage isa sfipporting base for the in' terna drain 's'y ta'iin; and Figure 4 isja; detail of a grounding conductor. A The storage tank is denoted by the numeral 10 and shows, through the broken away part, the internal .drain system which consists of a ring or circular base 11 with upri ht collecting fins 12 of any desired num r and length secured on'the ring or baselal bymeans of clamps 13, which may be ordinary pe unions in case the base and fins are ma e oi piping or metallic rods.v

The ring or base .11 may be supported by means of standards or feet 14, placed on the bottom of the tank,see Figure 3 or the supports may be entirely omitted. The

ring or basell is connected to the ground bvmeans of-conductors 16 of high conductivity. These ground connections having the same capacity as the rest of the drain system may be run into the oil drain pipe 15 and from there to the ground, or may be directly connected to the ground throu h the.

bottom of a tank or through its 'si e, as shown at 17-and 18, respectively.

Itshould be noted that the internal dra'insystem may be constructed in almost any form and made of wire, tube, rod or metallic screen or sheet metal. The internal drain system' may notnccessarily rest on the bot tom of the storage tank but may just as well be; supported from the side or suspended from the top thereof, depending on local' conditions. In the case that pipes or rods are used, the grounding may be constructed, as shown in base 11 is made up of short lengths of pi )e or rods and screwed into a pipe T and t e ground pipe or bar 16 is tapped into the transverse shank of the T.- Similarly the fins 12 may be secured to the base or ring 11 by such a T' as has just been described.

The internal drain system may be grounded in one or more places and either to the ground, or to the tank, separately or .col lectively, depending on local conditions, to insure most perfect results.

It will be evident that the invention may be used not only for protection of oil tanks but also for tanks containing any other liquid or gaseous substance intended 'for fuel or lighting.

Having thus described the invention, what iguie 4:, where the ring orsaid members being. made from short metal- 'necting element including a bent rod attached to one of-said Ts, the lengths of said rods for said members being such that the device may be completely e'nclosedby the tank.

2. A device for continuously draining induced electric charges frcm'conductin'g particles suspended within the contents of a tank and for conducting said charges to the mem er, collecting'membersand a groundconnecting element for said ham members,

-ound, said device comprising a base said members being made from rods, Ts joining said rods, and feet attached to said base member, said ground-connecting element including a bent rod attached to one ofs'aid Ts, the entire device being enclosed by the tank.

3. A device for continuously draining induced electric charges from conducting particles suspended within the contents of a tank and for conducting said chargesto the ground said device comprising a base member, collecting members and a ground-connecting element for said base members, the entire device being enclosed by the tank.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

- CHARLES A. STANLEY. [n 5.] 

